Stryper – Live in Indonesia at the Java Rockin’ Land
UK Distribution – Wienerworld – 69 Minutes
Released – (UK) March 25th 2013
Now if you had talked to a young me say in 1987 and told me to watch a live Stryper DVD I would have told you in no uncertain terms to *do one* . I was a young thrash fan heavily into bands like Slayer, Metallica, Dark Angel, Venom, Celtic Frost and Stryper were looked upon as a dirty blot on the face of heavy metal which back in the 80′s was littered with anti-christian sentiment . I would never have listened to Stryper (but I may have a little bit).
Stryper were huge in the 80′s with their debut EP The Yellow and Black Attack released in 1984 and their 1986 album To Hell With The Devil spent 3 months in the USA Billboard charts and went on to sell well over 2 million copies. So its hard to believe that they just gradually dissolved in the 1990′s and just disbanded.
At the back end of 1999 they reformed and in various guises have been touring since , but currently as with this DVD it is the original “classic” Stryper line-up of Michael Sweet, Oz Fox , Tim Gaines and Robert Sweet.
This DVD was recorded at the Java Rockin’ Land festival in Indonesia in 2010.
This is a classic festival stage show , very little going on so basically we have Stryper with instruments and that is all. In front of a fairly good sized crowd Stryper kick off with Sing-Along Song and immediately I heard how tight they sounded . The DVD features all their classics including Calling on You, Soldiers Under Command , To Hell With The Devil and more. Michael Sweets vocals are fairly good with a couple of exceptions but still bloody good for a guy who is nearly 50. Oz Fox’s guitar was bang on as was Tim Gaines bass, and Robert Sweets gurning efforts on the drums were good and hilarious to watch at the same time.
Now I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this , BUT I really got into it. It is strange that after 25 years I actually still remembered some of the songs and even lyrics. The crowd are fairly static , but saying that they are in sections due to security fencing. The sound is pretty good and the camera does a good job at showing all 4 members and not just focusing on Michael Sweet.
So all in I enjoyed this , it would be good just to have on in the background as visually it is nothing special but as a retro return to God Rock from the 80′s it is a lot of fun.
On a final note God must be looking down on Stryper as all 4 members have great heads of hair and that can’t be said for most approaching 50 metalheads .
Calling on You for a good 6/10
This is another release from the great UK distribution company Wienerworld who have been supporting independent releases since 1981 and have a huge selection of very varied titles on offer – please check them out .
https://www.wienerworld.com/stryper-live-at-java-rockin-land.html
https://www.wienerworld.com/
Tracks:
· Sing Along Song
· Murder By Pride
· Loud ‘N Clear
· Rock That Makes Me Roll
· Reach Out
· Calling On You
· Free
· More Than a Man
· Honestly
· Open Your Eyes
· All for One
· The Way
· Abyss/To Hell With The Devil
· Soldiers Under Command
